My Profile: Simulator Mode

For training purposes, Omnilert includes a special mode that you can enable called "Simulator Mode".

As the name implies, this mode is intended to allow an administrator to simulate sending an alert without actually sending any messages. 

This special training mode affects two main menu sections of Omnilert:

1. Scenario Manager > Launch
2. Send Message

Simulator mode will allow the admin to compose and simulate sending a message without actually sending anything to the endpoints selected. 

All other administrative functions are not impacted by Simulator mode and still function normally.

To enable Simulator Mode:

Admins can place themselves in simulator mode through a simple settings option in their own profile. This is a temporary setting as it will only last until disabled or the admin logs out.

On the main menu, select My Profile.

Then select Simulator from the profile tabs for your Omnilert admin profile.

Then check the box for Enable simulator mode to shift your current admin login session into "simulator mode".

How to tell if you are currently in Simulator mode

Once enabled, you will notice that the top of Omnilert's admin portal will become orange as shown below:

If you do not see an orange color at the top of the screen, you are not in simulator mode!

How to return to normal operational mode?

Simulator mode only lasts as long as you're logged into Omnilert for the current session. You can exit simulation mode and return to the fully functional and operational mode in either of two ways; log out or uncheck the "Enable simulator mode" option in your My Profile settings.  

As soon as you log out and log back in, you will be back in normal operational mode.

You may also revert back to normal operational mode without logging out by adjusting the checkbox in your My Profile >> Simulator settings. Clear the checkbox and you're back to normal operational mode.

Simulated message history in the Timeline/Message Activity

After sending a simulated message, Omnilert will create a simulated history for the admin in training to view.

Simulated messages will be clearly marked as such in their Timeline detailed view. You will see an orange bar with the words "Simulated message details".

As the message was simulated, there are no real return statuses to report. So, Omnilert will fill in the report with simulated data showing 100% delivery success for all simulated messages.

This same "Simulated message details" banner will appear in the Message Activity for any simulated messages. 

Important additional information about Simulator Mode

Use this mode for training message launches only! Simulator mode will disable the sending of messages to subscribers via Scenarios and the Send Message page messages only from the current browser session. 

Simulator mode does not disable other features, including:

• CSV Imports
• FTP Import processing
• SMS replies on the Timeline
• Send Test functions
• Sending Omnilert App Invites
• Sending SMS from the People > Active list
• Sending from another browser/computer 
• Sending from apps or other devices
• Data changes to subscribers, admins, or settings

Simply put, this mode is designed to help admins train on how to compose and send an alert via a web browser.

Note: This feature is available on the Omnilert admin web portal only. There is no "simulation" mode available for the Android/iOS scenarios app.